Lord, Help Me to Hear Others

“The next day Moses took his place to judge the people. People were standing before him all day long, from morning to night. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What’s going on here? Why are you doing all this, and all by yourself, letting everybody line up before you from morning to night?”

Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me with questions about God. When something comes up, they come to me. I judge between a man and his neighbor and teach them God’s laws and instructions.”

Moses’ father-in-law said, “This is no way to go about it. You’ll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you—you can’t do this alone. Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God. Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do. And then you need to keep a sharp eye out for competent men—men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible—and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They’ll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people. They’ll bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they’ll be the judges. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you. If you handle the work this way, you’ll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also.”

Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said. Moses picked competent men from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people who were organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They took over the everyday work of judging among the people. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but in the routine cases they were the judges. Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law who went home to his own country.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭18:13-27‬ ‭MSG‬‬

It’s a Gift To Be YOU In Christ Jesus!

Finishing Strong Friday: Good morning! I am loved by Jesus Christ. I’ve sinned, I still sin and I will sin, BUT IM STILL LOVED and there’s nothing you nor I can do about it!!! KNOW THIS ABOUT YOU ALSO!!! #makeithappen

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans‬ ‭6:23‬)

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans‬ ‭8:28-35, 37-39‬)

Consistency and Endurance!

One of the greatest needs of the ministry is consistency and endurance. The Call of God to Christians is to be consistent and enduring!

1. In physical sufferings

2. In mental stress

3. In moments of overwork

4. In sleepiness

5. In hunger

6. In spiritual growth & behavior

7. In disregarding others reactions

8. In social abuse and persecution

9. In being content...ALWAYS

“But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (II Corinthians 6:4-10 NKJV)

The Thorn “Experience” is Necessary

The Apostle Paul had experienced the spiritual power of Christ. God had given Paul deep and intimate spiritual experiences. There was the danger that he might begin to think too highly of himself; therefore, God gave Paul a “thorn in the flesh”. 

Like the Apostle Paul, we too suffer from a number of things: illness, infirmities, ridicule, naysayers; we suffer financially and emotionally. We pray asking for our sufferings to be removed or to come to an end.  However, illnesses still come. Our Bills still stack up. Naysayers seem to grow in number and oftentimes we become emotionally drained.  But know that these experiences are necessary!

God uses adversity to guard against our becoming “puffed” up because of our accomplishments. He uses our weaknesses to reveal the power of Christ in our lives and these experiences teach us to live for Christ and not for ourselves!

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)

Wow, "MY" God

  • Covers me
  • Protects me
  • Loves me...even in spite of my flawed behavior, thoughts and actions! The same applies to you!!!

"God , investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can’t take it all in!" (Psalms 139:1‭-‬6 NLT)

Leadership Tip

Being "Individually Great" isn't what matters.  Being a part of a team, where your individual talent enhances, teaches and creates growth of your team, for the overall success of the team IS WHAT IT'S ’s ALL ABOUT! #makeithappen #leadership #teamwork

The Importance of Having Thankfulness and Faith

Before you start your day find just one thing to be thankful for and another thing that you are willing to apply your faith towards. Dissatisfaction is an ever-present reality, and impatience (faithlessness) follows very closely behind dissatisfaction. Without Thankfulness and Faith, all sorts of things can and will creep in and all restraint is gone!

Know before you go that God sees all, knows all and has blessed you and is blessing you. Be thankful and keep the faith. God never fails! We don’t need to take things in our own hands; trust and be patient. #makeithappen

💯 TREAT!

Today is Halloween and the phrase that goes with this day is "Trick or Treat". Well, I'm posting to encourage someone that today is 💯 TREAT when we are IN CHRIST!!! Life or the prospects of problems is not "Tricky" or scary when you know in advance, that in the end we win!

God's servants can be content in all circumstances no matter how severe they are "through Christ", but we CANNOT be content in any circumstance "apart from Christ."

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13)

There is a Time to Confront and a Time to Comfort

"And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" - There is a time to Confront and a time to Comfort

We must be reminded that there comes a time that we are to forgive the person who has done wrong. It is right to punish wrongdoing but was is worse than anything is punishment without the chance to be forgiven. If we continue to isolate, chastise and label folk for their wrongdoings, then we isolate them and they never have a chance of acceptance.  What happens when we reject those among us? Well, Satan wins! He will consume our brothers and our sisters. He (Satan) wants us to reject each other, this is his biggest recruiting tactic.

What we need more of is restoration, forgiveness, compassion, prayer and acceptance for those who truly have repented of their wrongdoing. We're good at punishing and locking up and doing away with our enemies, but be reminded that the Bible calls for Christians to forgive.

The truth is that Christ has forgiven you.  Is it too much to ask that you forgive another? #makeithappen

“Now, regarding the one who started all this—the person in question who caused all this pain—I want you to know that I am not the one injured in this as much as, with a few exceptions, all of you. So I don’t want to come down too hard. What the majority of you agreed to as punishment is punishment enough. Now is the time to forgive this man and help him back on his feet. If all you do is pour on the guilt, you could very well drown him in it. My counsel now is to pour on the love.” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:5-8‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

I'm God's Handiwork!

If God had to wait for me to be righteous of my own accord I'd be useless to Him...but even in my deepest filth He uses me to bear witness to His perfectness. Yet, there remain those who believe it ain't so.  To God be the glory on earth as it is in heaven!  Be careful how you judge the work of God in the lives of others...

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

I See You God!

God has ALWAYS had my back, even when I wasn’t aware that I needed His protection; His provision; and His love. I’ve seen Him deliver me before and I’m guaranteed that He’ll do it each and every time I’m in need! Early this morning, my spirit is singing praises for “Who He Is” to me!

“But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.” (Psalms‬ ‭59:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

I Am "BECOMING"

I am willing to BECOME who God needs, it’s just that simple. Paul was willing to become ALL THINGS to ALL men, so that he may by ALL MEANS save some! The Call of God remains the same today.  #makeithappen

“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:19-23‬ ‭NASB‬‬)

Our Investment in Time

One of the best investments of our time? Prayer! Spending just a few minutes in prayer everyday will prevent us from having hours of trying to unravel problems that we've encountered because we skipped out on prayer.

Invest your time wisely today, 10 to 15 minutes will keep us from climbing out of all of the pitfalls we find ourselves in when we don't pray before we do or say anything! #makeithappen

THIS

THIS thing,
THIS problem,
THIS disease,
THIS setback,
THIS loneliness,
THIS disorder, and
THIS trial is temporary because GREAT is our REWARD in Heaven! #makeithappen

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:12 NKJV)

Fools Delight in Their Own Opinions

Proverbs 18:2 - Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

Lord, teach us how to better understand others and not be so overwhelming and forceful in having others only see, hear and accept our own opinions.  Lord teach us what it means to disagree with grace and how to walk away intact and not broken. Heal us from the need to always be right. I pray that we all have an experience today with the Almighy God and that we can have conversations that edify one another and not tear down each other.  Lord, let us not be fools, but let us hear each other out, understanding that each of us is an image bearing entity created by You, for Your glory in Your image and likeness. In the name of Jesus, Amen. #makeithappen

Keeping it Simple

It is my prayer that I share the Gospel in such a way that those who read my posts can understand fully what I’m saying or better yet, what God is saying through me. It is not my intention to use big words or to challenge our understanding with things hidden and not clearly made plain. The Gospel is for all of us to receive, for all of us to understand and for all of us to believe. As Paul’s writings indicate, I too must keep it simple. I hope that I have and that you find the simplicity of my posts a blessing unto you and to whomever you may share them with. Be blessed today!

“And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the testimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do]; for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection]. I came to you in [a state of] weakness and fear and great trembling. And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered] in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] power [stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them], so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom and rhetoric of men, but on the power of God.” (1 CORINTHIANS‬ ‭2:1-5‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

My Random Thought

What I say and what I do normally does not align with what's in my heart. I'm sitting in traffic thinking, "if I can get all three of those in sync, man that would that be awesome!"

Wednesday's Word

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I  do,  forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. (Philippians 3:13‭-‬15 NKJV)

Faith is trusting God in advance for what you will see in reverse.

Today, as I look back over my life I see what God brought me from and through:

• those things I walked away from was beneficial for me, although at the time it seemed so important...it really wasn't

• leaving behind  relationships that I didn't need have freed me to have a true relationship with Him

• I left hangups, attitudes and self-defeating bad influences that held me back from becoming the man I was meant to be

• and I left behind the need to be accepted by others, realizing that there is neither Heaven nor Hell that man can assign to me, I only need to be accepted and to please God!

Trust God in each of your tomorrows and don't be hindered by the mistakes of yesterday! #makeithappen

Assertive and Aggressive

There's a difference between being Assertive and Aggressive.

   •Assertive people state their opinions, while still being respectful of others. 

   •Aggressive people attack or ignore others' opinions in favor of their own.

This one right here knows the difference! Pastor Beverly, my man ("Did I say that right?") 😇

Thankful Thursday: Oh, Oh and Oh!!!

Have you ever noticed that when things just get sooooo good that you don't have words to describe it? You get to where you can only say "Oh". Sometimes you just string it, "Oh, Oh, Oh" and at other times you just let it trail off, "Oohhhhh . Well, when you sit down and begin to think just how good God has been to you, all that you can say is, "Oh"!

"Oh", Lord you didn't have to bring me through, bring me back from, bring me out of, bring me into... (You fill in the blank. He's brought all of us from something and to something better). When you think back on His Hand on your life, just say "Oh"!

• "Oh", thank you Jesus for saving me
• "Oh", thank you Jesus for loving me
• "Oh", thank you Jesus for my life, my family, my home, my job, my health, my wealth, my hope, my joy, my peace..."OH, OH, OOOHHHHH"!

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalms 34:8 NKJV)